The school may have been demolished for over 50 years, but the 1901 date stone from a Brisbane schoolhouse has survived.
Laurie Ann Mete, daughter of Charlie Eagles, who owned the date stone, donated it back to the town at a ceremony on May 3. Former students and Eagles family members packed the town chambers for the ceremony.
“It’s a special day for heritage in our community,” said councillor Jeff Duncan.
The stone, which reads “S.S No. 16 Erin 1901,” used to be the date stone for a one-room schoolhouse in Brisbane, explained heritage committee chair Jamie Cheyne in a presentation.
The school sat on the corner of Trafalgar Road and Wellington Road 124, mere metres from the current Brisbane Public School.
The last schoolhouse built in Erin township, it opened in 1901 for students in school section 16. The school continued until 1960, when everyone moved to Brisbane Public School.
“The school was in continued use until the 1960s, when a school board was basically created and amalgamation occurred and all the one room school houses were de-populated and sold off. Brisbane was no different,” said Cheyne.
Eagles bought the property and demolished the schoolhouse, which was not abnormal for that time, added Cheyne.
“Charlie had the forethought to keep the date stone and it travelled with him and his family through many … moves,” he said.
While Eagles passed away many years ago, it wasn’t until his wife passed away that the family decided to return the stone to Erin.
“I am so pleased to be donating this 1901 Brisbane date stone. My father has been deceased for 43 years and it is nice to know that I can donate this school stone back to where it belongs,” said Mete.
The stone adorns the council chambers at the moment until council can decide on a more permanent home.
